Why Brownell? Many reasons he's the right man in the right place at the right time

The Clemson Sports Blog

Kerry Capps

9:35 AM, May 23, 2014

Baseball - The Tiger mascot has fun with head basketball coach Brad Brownell during the game

In response to Clemson's announcement this morning that it has reached a deal with Brad Brownell for an six-year contract extension, USA Today writer Dan Wolken immediately tweeted, 'Why?'

Perhaps you'd have to be from around here to get it.

Why?

Because Brownell has given the Tigers here-and-now credibility.

Because he's recruiting at the highest the program has seen in decades.

Because there are strong signs that he's putting together the pieces of a sustainable program.

Because he's a good fit for Clemson, personality-wise, and vice-versa.

And because nobody in forever has been able to do all those things with any consistency without ending up as somebody else's head coach.

Clemson men's basketball is not an easy gig. There are challenges aplenty, on a variety of fronts - some spelled 'Duke, UNC, Louisville, Syracuse' etc.; others that include finding a consistent recruiting niche in a state that doesn't produce nearly as many elite basketball players as it does football players.

Brownell is making headway, and the move to lock him into Clemson long-term, before someone else comes knocking, looks to be the best decision yet for Dan Radakovich.